Seat slide latching mechanism



April 28, 1953 A. JOHNSON SEAT SLIDE LATCHING MECHANJ ISM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 15, 1950 IMF/11151: Agnar Jo 12125011.

April 28,1953 A. JOHNSON SEAT SLIDE LATCHING MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 10 law/M1251- 8 Agnaz' Johnson Patented Apr. 28, 1953 Agnar'Johnson, Rockford, 111., assignor to Atwood Vacuum Machine Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 15, 1950, Serial No. 162,092

11 Claims. (01. 155-14) This invention relates to seat slides adapted for use in vehicles such as automobiles, and is,

more particularly concerned with improvements inthe latching mechanism provided for releasably locking such slides in adjusted positions.

Various kinds of latches and latch operating means have been proposed heretofore. For example, there have been the sliding type latches like those illustrated in Crabb Patent 2,271,913, and there have also been the pivoted type latches like those shown in Lustig Patent 2,234,442. Other types have also been proposed but the sliding type and the pivoted type have been most commonly used. In all prior designs a separate spring means was invariably provided to hold the latch normally in locking position, and, of

course, manually operable handle means of one kind or another was required which had tobe connected in a suitable manner with the latch meansand had to be so arranged that it could be operated reasonably handily from the drivers position on the seat. In any event, these prior designs have been more or less complicated and expensive and were subject to the further objection that with so many intermediate connections there was apt to be too much lost motion in the structure to enable as positive operation as desired, particularly when it is remembered that the movement of the latch on one slide mechanism on one end of the seat has to be transmitted through an intermediate linkage of some kind to the latch on the slide mechanism on the other end of the seat, thus, adding further opportunities for additional lost motion, and, of course, the fact that sheet metal stamp? ings are used to such a large extent in the large scale production of seat slides for automotive use makes it impossible to operate within close limits as to tolerances, so that the difliculties mentioned are accordingly multiplied. It is therefore the principal object of my invention .to provide a spring wire latch of simplified and novel design which, besides costing only a small fraction of what was involved in the cost of these other designs, avoids the objections inherent in those other designs and enables much more positive operation of the latches on the opposite ends of a seat, not only due to the improved design of the latches themselves, but because of the greatly reduced opportunities for lost motion going with the use of these improved spring wire latches.

In the spring wire latches of my invention the spring wire body of the latch furnishes its own spring action, thus eliminating the necessity for extraneous spring means, and moreover, in the case of the latch on the slide mechanism under the drivers end of the seat, the handle for operating the latch is preferably formed as an integral extension of the front end portion of the latch, thereby eliminating an extra handle and the mounting therefor, although, of course, a separate operating handle unit may be provided if preferred.

In accordance with my invention, in view of the springiness of the spring wire latch and the possibility therefore that an operator with unusual strength might spring the latch to an excessive degree and possibly disengage and dislocate it from its intended assembled relationship to the notched portion of the slide through which a portion of the spring wire latch must extend for engagement in a selected notch in the stationary seat slide element, I prefer to provide means for positively limiting the disengaging movement of the spring wire latch in the vicinity of the notched portion of the movable slide element on which the spring wire latch is carried, and this limiting means preferably also is connected with the spring wire latch in the slide mechanism at the other end of the seat so as to disengage that latch automatically simultaneously with-the disengagement of the first latch.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a seat slide assembly showing applied thereto a spring wire latch made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 1 taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. '1 but showing a modified or alternative construction in so far as the spring wire latch is concerned and showing moreover a novel means for limiting the throw of the first latch and the utilization of this means for operation of the companion latch on the other seat slide assembly on the other end of the seat;

Fig. .5 is an end view of the seat slide assembly appearing on the right in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 4 taken on the line 66 thereof.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown my invention applied to a ball-bearing type seat slide assembly similar to that disclosed in my .copending application, Serial No. 687,886, filed August 2, 1946, there being, of course, two such devices provided in connection with each seat attached to the bottom of the seat by means of bolts 6 or in any other suitable manner, and secured to and supported upon the floor l on the legs or brackets 8, suitably of hollow sheet metal construction, provided on the front and rear ends of the seat slide structure. Each seat slide structure comprises upper andilowertiongitiidinallyex tending channel slide members 9' and IIlj the member 9 carrying the bolts 6 previously mentioned and the member It being secured in any suitable manner to the tops oiixthmsupporting; brackets 3, as by rivets II. The slide members 9' and iii are of stamped sheet' metafcn'strnotion and formed to provide channelsd z and lt' tlierein in which two bearing balls I4 and I5 operat to maintain these slide members inianormalispacedi relationship and also guide the upper slide member 9 for movement in a straight line relative'tothe lower slide member Ii). The lower member lllha-s tlie' rivets I l entered tiiroughzthexweb por'i tion- I6 of tlie -ciiannel I and has-theside walls i1 of tlie'channel bent outwardly to pro'vide longitudinally extendingfianges I3? In a similar Way, the upp'e'r' slide member 9 liasthe'bolts' 6 anchored iii the web portionlil of the" channel- I!- and has" the side walls 2'9 of the channel bent outwardly to define longitudinally extending flanges 2|, the outer edge portions ofw'hicli' are bent inwardly, as" indicated at 2 2"; under the flanges I 9' on' the lower siide member I 3 to" hold the parts assembledrelation'; The seat-slide constructed so'- far" described is substantially as disclb'sed inthecopending application; However; in tliepresentcase; a notch 28 i's defined by cuttingeway-a small portibn'ofthe' flangeZ I on'one side-of theupper'slidemember Qso as to expose selectiirelyanyone -of-*tlie' notches 24 provided in longitudinalspaced relation in" the edge of the corresponding flange I8; whereby" to enable eng-agement of the spring Wire latch 25 selectively any" one'oftl'iese notches 24: to lock the seat inany desired positionnf adjustment;

The" spring Wife men 25} in accordance" with myinv'ention; ismade' from a single length" of spring'wire having onefhori-zontai end portion 26 bent at right. angles" as at 2"! and entered" with a press fitin registeriiigiiolizsitprovided in the side-walls 2!) oftiiechannei I i-for'ancl'iorage or the rear end of. the latch ontheupper'slidez f Th'e lateh zfi extendsiorwa'rdly ri'omitsencliored endZt along theroutside' of tiiecli'annelf I 2"as iii"- dicated at 29 'totlie'notch" 2?"at whici'itpoihtlthe latch has'arig'ht angle benda's indicated'atliifi to provide a short verticallyextending'latch pin portion 3 I engageabie: in. any "oneofthe notches zlinflange' It; 'I'liereis another. right angle bended-3'2intlrespringwire latch Zdtonfine the lower end of the latch pin portion" 31, and the latch" 25. extends forwardly' from this bend 32 alon'g'th'e" outsideof channel I 3'" and" extends. forivardly'from" the front end'of thepseatislide structine enough to" form" one: side of. a U-sliaped handle loop or bail 34. by means of which: the spring wire; latch may be operated by sidewise pressure on th'evhandl'e 34f so as. to fi'exitlie-latch 25as a whole between. the handle. andthelanchored rear end ZS'bf'the latclinas" indicated in dotted lines: The; latclipih portion 31 is spaced far enough from th'e anchoredendzs to allow this pin portion 31 to'be withdrawn fairlyeasili from whichever one of thenotches 2'4it happens -to'he engageddh at the time; so that the-seat may be slide fii'm'ardlyi or rearwardlyto the desired ex- .tent whereuponT-the pinzportionial will aitertthe 4- handle 34 is released, snap into the first notch 24 that is brought into register with it, under the spring tension inherent in the spring wire latch itself. The side 35 of the handle 34 extends rearwardly in substantial parallelism with the other side 33 of the handle to the point 35 where it has a lateral bend and then an upward bend as at 3'! so as? to defineatsubstantiallitvertical stop pin portion" 38 that is adapted to come into' engagement with the adjacent side of the upper slide 9 positively to limit the lateral deflection of -handlec 3llwin theerelease of the latch to the extent that although the latch pin portion 3| is assured of disen'gagement from the cooperating notch 24, thetl'at'chpin portion 3! is nevertheless still disposed witliixrtliec-onfines of the notch 23, a indicated inadottedilines in Fig. 1, so that there is no danger of the operator dislocating the spring Wire'iat'chfrom its proper assembled relationship to the rest of the seat slide structure and renderinait'iinopemtivez. Thespring-wirezlatchxis therefore -fooleproori. Thereiisazriehin an'glesrearward bend: 39 defining ther upper: end: of. the" stop: pint portionv 31% and 4 tiie' springtwire -extends horizon: tally: rearwardlyi an acute anglerwith relation tothemppersiidewwasundieated alt- 29i amnhasa right? anglebend in the extremity thereof: to defih'e'za downwardl'y extendingrverticai :pivotipin portion ii l which pivots in anholerd-t izrth'e web I 9 of the: channel l22 this =liolei 52 being: spaced: forwardly appreciably from the holes 2i? receiv ing the anoliored rear-en d portion it ofth'e latch:

An eyelet portiom i'ifis formed in the sprin'gwire at predetermined distance from the=pivot pin port/1on 4 1' for connection with=the looped end; 4"! of a cross 1il1k- 351 thatties together the" spring wire latches-'- 25 provided on. the two seat slide structures supporting the opposite ends=- of an automobile seat. T-Iiecompanim latch 2fi t'o the o ppearing in Fig: 1 may" or may not? be equipped with thehandle extension 3'4;

In operation; these-spring='wire 1atolies= 25 can be assermaled on a seat 'slitle' structure With mucli' less diniculty and alta small fraction or'the-cost involved withotiier desisnsoflatcii' mechanisms;

there b'eing onlythe-press fit insertion-of the-end portion-2? iii-holes =23 and the'entrybf -*the* pivot pimp'ortion' 4 I in=tlie-iio1e er, and? of course; the on'e piece' bent-spring wire forming the body-of tiiglatcli was 2: small fraction of what wasinvoh' ed the cost" of the plurality of parts illvaria-bly" required with other designs; Moreover; with thepresent one-piece.- construction; there i's eliimnate'a tile-various pivotal -connectionsg all I offwhieh involie'd a certain amount ofplay, and

thislat'chcan accordingly b'e'= fitted more ac curat'ely to the seat-'slidstructurewith less op portunit'y for runout in tlie large scale-produc tion of such' structures for use on automobiles: Thgeliminatieirof extrapartsandtiie consequent eliminationof lost moti'on-going with the connee= tions" between sucH parts accounts for tiie" more positive action of tliis' spring Weenies, andyet", since there is onlir theinherent spring tension in the? latch itself to be overcome in therelease? of tile latch; tlierebeing" no such friction as' was involvedintlie's'lidihgmovement of aTcibroca'bl iatcli' ortiie turning movement ofan oscillating latch; it: follows that the present latch may be operated' muchlmoreieasily'; The inherent spring tension: holding the' present: springi wire latch normally in its locked position keeps the-":latcii fully; engaged at alliti-mes; land iinasmuchzasf there are; no: extraneous: parts; which" are: not affected by, thiss springi tension;... ittis evident-that: there will be no likelihood of the latch rattling when the car is in motion.

- In the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, spring wire latches 25a and 25b are illustrated, which operate similarly as latch 25. The same type of seat slide structures have been shown, to facilitate the understanding of the operation of this modification. Latch 25a has the anchored end 26 like latch 25 and extends forwardly along the outside of the upper slide, as indicated at 29, and has the downwardly extending latch pin portion 3| received in whichever notch 24 in flange I8 is in register with it, the latch having the portion 33 extending forwardly from the latch pin portion 3| alongside the outside of the lowerslide l and projecting forwardly from the front end of the seat slide structure to provide the handle portion 34a, on the extremity of which a knob 46 is preferably provided to facilitate manual operation of the latch 25a. Latch 25b has the anchored end portion 26 like latch 25 and 25a and has the forwardly extending portion 29 disposed alongside the outside of the upper slide 9, and it has the downwardly extending latch pin portion 3| engageable in whichever notch 24 in flange l8 happens to be in register with it. However, latch 25b differs from the others at this point in having a lateral extension 41 from the lower end of the latch pin portion 3|, in the outer end of which a loop 48 is formed for connection with the loop Na in the adjacent end of the cross-link 45a provided to interconnect the latches 25a and 25b for joint operation. In other words, a latch like latch 251) could be operated by direct connection with the companion latch on the other seat slide structure at the other end of the seat in the manner described above in regard to the companion latch for latch 25, name- 1y, by connection of link 45a directly with the companion latch, as by connection with a loop 43 on the companion latch, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, in Figs. 4 and I have shown an intermediate member 50 pivoted at 5| on top of slide 9 adjacent latch 25a and arranged to be oscillated about its pivot 51 in the release of latch 25a to give reciprocatory movement to link 45a so as to release latch 2522 with latch 25a, the intermediate member 50 serving moreover as a means for positively limiting deflection of spring wire latch 25a in a release direction. In other words, the oscillatable member 50, which, of course, could be used without any connection with a cross-link 45a, serves a similar purpose as the stop pin portion 38 on latch 25. There is a downwardly projecting lug 52 on one edge portion of member 58 arranged to be engaged by the portion 29 of spring wire latch 25:; in the release movement so as to swing the member 50 in a counter-clockwise directionv as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby causing link 45a, which is pivotally connected as at 53 to a lug 54 on the other side of the member 56, to be pulled to the right and accordingly disengage spring wire latch 25b. Now, the lug 54 is offset downwardly from the plane of member 59 as indicated at 55 in Fig. 5 whereby to form a limit stop which by engagement with the adjacent side of the upper slide 9 will positively limit the counter-clockwise movement of member 50 with latch 25a and accordingly positively limit the'defiection of latch 25a, for the same reasons outlined above in regard to latch 25. Of course, the fact that the movement of latch 25a is limited means a corresponding limit upon movement of latch 25b so that neither of the '.two latchesv can become dislocated from proper assembled-relationship to the associated seat slide structure.

The operation of the construction shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is believed to be clear from the foregoing and particularly in view of the description of the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to similar advantages being obtained with both constructions. I

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations. v

I claim: 1

1. Latching means for releasably looking a movable seat supporting slide in a selected position relative to a stationary support on which the slide is guided for fore and aft reciprocation, one of the said support and slide elements having a plurality ,of longitudinally spaced notches provided in an edge portion thereof and the other of said elements having a single notch provided therein arranged to register with any one of said plurality of notches upon reciprocatory movement of said elements relative to one another, said latching means comprising a substantially horizontal elongated spring wire latch member fixed at its one end to the singly notched one of said support and slide elements at some distance from the notch and extending lengthwise of said element toward the notch and having a substantially vertically extending integral latch pin portion disposed freely in the notch and closely engaging in whichever one of the plurality of notches in the other of said elements is in register therewith, said latch pin portion being held releasably lockingly engaged in the latter notch under the spring tension inherent in the spring wire material of said latch member and adapted to be moved to released position by deflection of said latch member, and manually operable means comprising an integral handle ex tension extending substantially horizontally from the end of the latch pin portion away from the fixed end of said latch member lengthwise of the singly-notched element and beyond the end thereof for deflecting said latch member laterally out of and into notches in the other of said support and slide elements. 2. Latching means as set forth in claim 1 including means for positively limiting lateral defiection of said latch member so as to prevent disengagement of the substantially vertically extending latch pin portion from the notch in the singly-notched element.

3. Latching means for releasably looking a movable seat supporting slide in a selected position relative to a stationary support on which the slide is guided for fore and aft reciprocation, one of the said support and slide elements having a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches provided in an edge portion thereof and the other of said elements having a single notch provided therein arranged to register with any one of said plurality of notches upon reciprocatory movement of said elements relative to one another, said latching means comprising a substantially horizontal elongated spring wire latch member fixed at its one end to the singly-notched one of said support and slide elements at some distance from the notch and extending lengthwise of said element toward the notch and having a substantially vertically extending integral latch pin portion disposed freely in the notch and closely engaging in whichever one of the plurality esteem on notches in. the other" of? said? eiements; is' in: register therewith, said 1atch-piniportienibeiirg1 Heldreleasablw loek ingly engaged; the latter notch under the spring tension inherent in the spring Wire material of said latoli member adapted to be moved -td released position by de fieetion of said latch member; manually operable means for deflecting said l'ateli member, and meansfor' positively" limiting deflection. of said latth: member; comprisingtan integral ex tension; oi said latoh member and including: a. stop portion. arranged tostr-ilie one of the su tr-- port. and slide elements at the-limitiof deflectiorr of said latch member.

4 [atoning means for releasably' loeliing a movable seat' supporting slide a selected posi-- titan relativeto: a stationary support on which the slide" is guided for-'- fine and aft reciprocal;- tion; one'of" the said support and slide ele ments ha-vinga plurality of longitudinally spaced notches provided in an edge'portion thereof'and' the other of said elements havinga' single notch provided therein arranged to register with anyone of 'saidplurality of notches-'uponreeiprooat'ory' movement of said elements relative to one another; said latching means comprising a substantially 1 horizontalelongated spring wire latcl i member fixed" at: its one end to the singly notched oneof said support and slideelements at some distanoefrom the notch and extending lengthwise" of" said element toward the notch and having? a substantia'llyvertically extending integral latchpin portion disposed freely in the notch and closely engaging iir- Whichever one of theplurality of notches in the other of said elements is in register therewith,- said lat'eh pin portion-being held releasably lock-inglyengaged in the latter notch under the springtension inherent" in the; spring wi'rematerial of said latch membenand adapted to be moved to releasediposition" by deflection of said- 1a tchmember, manually'operable means 'fordeflecting said latch member; the lastmentione'd means coin"- prising an integral handle extension extending substantially horizontally from the end of said latch; pin portion; and the handle extension haNiiIg an integral stopportion'provided thereon arranged" to engage one-of the support and slide elements upon a predetermined deflection of said, latch; member. topositively limit deflection thereof.

51 Batching means for releasably looking" a movable seat supporting, slide in a seleotod posi tion relative to a stationary support onwhich theslide is guided for fore'andaft" reciprocation; one of the said support" and slide elementshaving. a, plurality of longitudinally spaced notches provided in an edge portion. thereof and the other'ofsaidLelementshaving-a single notoh'pro vide'ditherein arranged to register with any one of? saidi pliirality of. notches upon reciprocatory movement of said elements relative to'one another,. said. latching: means comprising a substantialiyhorizontal elongated spring-wirelatch member" fixed 'atdts' one end tothesingly-not'ehed one. of. said support. and slide" elements at some distance from the. notch and" extending lengthwise of'said'element toward then'otcli andhaving asnhstantially vertically extendingint'egra'l latch pin portion. disposed freely the notch and closelyenga'ging in Whichever'oneoftheplurality off notches in. the other of said elements in register. therewith, said latoh portion being held releasahlir locking'ly' engaged in the" latter notch under the sp'ringtension" inherent in" the spring wire materialr of? said; lat'oha member: and

adapted. to be moved to released position: by;

defieotioniofsaidlatoh' member; manually onerable'means fon'defieoting saidlatch mem'bersand means for positively liiniting' defieotiom of? said latci'rmember; comprisinga stop 1 member movea-b'ly supported on thesing-13 notched: one. on saitPsupport-and slide=ele1nentsi having-gone' pro j'eotion: arranged toe-be engaged" by said lawn member" in the" deflection thereof" to transmit:

inornament to said stop: member; and having; another projeotionr arranged to= engage said singly notched" element) to? limit". movement. oii said stop member.

82 Batching means for" releasably* looking: at movable seat supporting slide in a selected positionreiative-t'o a-stationarysupport-on whioh=tlie= slide is guided for fore=and aft reciprocation; one of the said support and sl'id'e elements; hav ing as plurality of" longitudinally spaced notches provided in an edge portion thereof and the other of said elements having asingle noteit provided-j therein arranged to' register withany. one of said plur lity of notches upon recipro- Y catory= intmarnent of said elements relative to;

one" another; said latching means comprising a. substantially horizontal elongated spring Wire latch member" fixed at its one end to the singly notchedoneof said support-andsiide elementsat, some distance fronr the notch and extending lengthwise" of said element toward the notchand. having a substantially vertically extending, integral lat'oh" pi'nportion disposed freely inthe notch and closely engaging Whiohever' one of the nluralityof-"notches in the othenof said elements" is in register therewith, said latchpin portion being; held releasably' lookingly en'- gaged in the latter notch: under the" spring tension inherent in the spring- Wirematerial ofsaid latch; memberan'd adapted to be moved t'o' released position by" deflection of said latch member; manually operable means for d'eflect ing said latch member; and means for post-- tiveiy limiting deflection of said latcli' member,

* comprising" a" stop member movab'l'ysupported on: the: singly notched one" of said support and slide' elements", having one projection arranged to be engaged by saidil'atchmember in the" deflection thereof to transmit movement tosaidstop member; and having another projection arran ge'd' to engage said singlynotched element to limit. movement of" said stop member; the latching; means including; means adapted to be connected with thestop member for movement therewith and adaptedto be connected with-another. latch member. on another seat. slide asseinbly to. operate the same.

7'. Asarnarticle of manufacturaa springgwii'e iat'elimember for. releasably locking a seat sun:- porting, slide ihisl'i'clably' adjusted; relation to a stationary, support, said. latch member compris ing; an elongatedsubstantially horizontal spring wire body having, one. integral end ortion bent laterally, to, formula substantially horizontal supnort'ing. end portion. adapted; for rigid connectionwitl'rthe; slide, endlhavinganother integral portionspacediappneciably fromsaidlend-lportion bent downwardly tdforma substantially vertical latch:piniporifioniadapted-to have releasabledoeke ingrengagement ins notches provided; in the suppnrtsitnenee end portion: ofsaid-lattdrpin per;- 'tionv beingzb'ent forwardly to? form azsubstantiaily horizontal operating end; portion by." means: of 'whiohthezlatoh member: iszadaptmttmbesdefitmt;

ed to release it from locking engagement with the support.

8. As an article of manufacture, a spring wire latch member for releasably looking a seat supporting slide in slidably adjusted relation to a stationary support, said latch member comprising an elongated substantially horizontal spring Wire body having one integral end portion bent laterally to form a substantially horizontal supporting end portion adapted for rigid connection with the slide, and having another integral portion spaced appreciably from said end portion bent downwardly to form a substantially vertical latch pin portion adapted to have releasable locking engagement in notches provided in the leasable locking engagement in notches provided in the support, the free end portion of said latch pin portion being bent forwardly to form eluding a rearwardly bent end portion having a downwardly bent extremity adapted to be pivotally engaged on the slide.

s an article of manufacture, a spring wire 10. A latch member for releasably locking a seat supsaid latch 11. latch nected a cross-link for operating another latch member on a companion seat slide.

AGNAR JOHNSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

